Westward 5yo 2018/2023

Westward 5yo 2018/2023

#7, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Oregon
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vitamin C tablets, orange peel, raisins, lemon zest, almonds, passionfruit, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oatcakes, passionfruit, almonds, raisins, brown paper, cedar, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, oatcakes, cedar, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Rather salty and citrusy, with a slightly astringent and metallic tinge. Nevertheless it’s got a lot of flavour for something that is just 5 years old. Thins out to a bit of wood on the finish, but that doesn’t hurt it at all.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Westward Pinot Noir Cask

Westward Pinot Noir Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Oregon
Amber gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, honey, sandalwood, cedar, wet stones, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, raisins, white pepper, red grapes, oatcakes, cedar, digestive biscuits. 
Finish: Medium. Oatcakes, white pepper, wet stones, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite intense and flavourful, lots of sweet notes with a nice cereally biscuity spine. It fades to a flinty, bitter finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westward Whiskey

Westward Whiskey

Official bottling
Single malt - Oregon
Copper
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Birch wood, raisins, orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of iron filings. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, strawberry jam, cinnamon, black tea, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Long. Iron filings, black tea, strawberry jam, vanilla. 

Comments: 

There's perhaps a touch of rye in this, it's very spicy, but not with warm spice. It's something metallic draped in a cloak of spicy, sweet jammy notes. A rather good effort.

Verdict:

I like this.